THE EEED WAEBLER. 



665 



one of the BritisH birds, but is not often found, on account of the 

 localities where it is placed. 



Nest of the Eced WaiWei. 



The architect of this nest is the Reed Waebler {Salicaria [or 

 Gurruca] arundinacea). It is a pretty little bird, bright brown 

 above, yellow-brown below. In some respects it resembles the 

 sedge warbler, but does not possess the remarkable wedge-shaped 

 tail of that bird. E. Mudie, in his History of British Birds, offers 

 the following suggestion respecting this difference of form. When 

 treating of the sedge warbler, he remarks that the slender head, 

 pointed bill, and wedge-shaped tail are useful to the bird by ena- 

 bling it to glide between the tall aquatic plants among which it 

 resides and finds its food. Of the Eeed Warbler he writes as fol- 

 lows: 



" That the bird is not adapted for so many situations as the 

 sedge bird might be inferred from the different form of the tail, 

 which is more produced and not wedge-shaped, so that while it 

 answers better as a balance on the bending reeds or other flexible 

 aquatic plants, it would not be so convenient among the unyield- 

 ing sprays of a hedge or brake. The bird rarely, if ever, perches 

 upon the tops of reeds, even on its first arrival, and when the 

 song of invitation to a mate is given, its place is on a leaf or a 



